WWE Studios Finance Corporation is suing internet users in Hawaii, Utah, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut alleging they downloaded the movie “The Eliminators” without paying them to do so. We believe it is likely that many more lawsuits may follow.

What Do The Lawsuits Allege?

The lawsuits allege “The Eliminators” was obtained illegally for free using file-sharing technology known as BitTorrent, although software and apps named something else may also use this technology. See this article from Torrent Freak about the lawsuits.

The copyright form for the movie lists WWE Studios Finance Corporation as the copyright claimant, and lists World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (“WWE”) of Wrestlemania fame as the contact for rights and permissions.

Why Are They Suing Internet Users?

The movie company says it is filing these lawsuits to stop piracy of its intellectual property. Critics of these lawsuits say its about the movie company generating more revenue.

What if I am Accused But Didn’t Download This Movie?

You have a number of legal options including hiring an attorney to defend you in court. If the judge finds that the movie company failed to prove its case, the US Copyright Act allows the judge to order the movie company to pay your attorneys fees and costs to defend.

It is undisputed that internet piracy is a large problem for copyright holders, but innocent people can be targeted, too, in free movie download lawsuits. The data can be wrong, and paying the internet bill does not mean you illegally downloaded the movie for free.

Want to Talk to Antonelli Law For Free About These Questions Right Away? Start Here

If you want to talk for free with a defense lawyer right away about a WWE Studios lawsuit, use our contact form above or call us at 312-201-8310 nationwide. We’re the nation’s most experienced BT copyright defense firm. Or scroll down to continue learning more about these lawsuits.

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What is the Legal Basis for the Lawsuits?

The lawsuits are based in copyright, and the company asks the court to award it monetary damages, attorneys fees, and an injunction to stop the defendants from using or sharing its copyrighted movie.

WWE Studios Finance Corporation states in these lawsuits that it used a computer company called MaverickEye UG to obtain the computer IP addresses that were involved ion these downloads. Significant questions have arisen regarding MaverickEye UG’s methods. See for example these articles here and here (Australia).

Have You Received a Letter, Summons, or Subpoena from your Internet Company?

Have you received a letter, summons, or subpoena from your internet company, or from a lawyer representing WWE Studios Finance Corporation ? If so, you need to contact a lawyer experienced in the special type of litigation employed by WWE Studios Finance Corporation, which is sometimes referred to as BT (BitTorrent) copyright litigation. Others call it “copyright trolling” litigation.

This article provides contact information for free consultations with Antonelli Law for those needing immediate legal help, as well as additional information for those looking to continue doing their research on WWE Studios Finance Corporation or similar movie download copyright plaintiffs.

What Are These Lawsuits About?

Critics of these lawsuits say its about the movie company generating more revenue. The movie company says it is filing these lawsuits to stop piracy of its intellectual property.

Questionable Claims for Vicarious Copyright Infringement

In the Nevada lawsuits filed by WWE Studios Finance Corporation, in addition to claims of direct and contributory copyright infringement, the movie company makes a third, and in our opinion questionable, claim for “vicarious copyright infringement.” We do not know of any case law that would support the claim as stated, which reads in part:

“Each of the Defendants failed to reasonably supervise the use of their respective Internet access points, thereby allowing those Internet access points to be utilized for the purposes of unlawfully downloading and sharing the Plaintiff’s Work. “

If WWE Studios has judicial legal authority for such claims of what sound like negligence in failure to supervise (rather than knowing and approving of third parties using their internet access to commit copyright infringement) we would like to see it.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY ALL DEFENDANTS OTHER THAN A SINGLE JOHN DOE DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR LACK OF PROPER JOINDER. Plaintiff has filed this action against numerous “John Doe” defendants. In light of the concerns set forth in ME2 Productions v. Does 1-4, 2016 WL 6948333 (N.D. Ga. 2016), plaintiff shall file a memorandum of law on or before April 21, 2017, explaining why all remaining defendants other than a single John Doe defendant should not be dismissed for lack of proper joinder in this action

The fact that Judge Meyer issued this ruling on his own just one day after the lawsuit was filed is telling. It may signal increased judicial skepticism of these types of lawsuits.

Utah Lawsuit

Hawaii Lawsuit

WWE STUDIOS FINANCE CORP. v Does 1-16 1:2017-cv-00165

Pennsylvania Lawsuit

WWE STUDIOS FINANCE CORP. v Does 1-8 2:17-cv-01617-JD

How Can Antonelli Law Help Me?

We’re the nation’s most experienced BT copyright defense firm. Antonelli Law will help you decide what to do about WWE Studios Finance Corporation letters, subpoenas, and summons. We have helped many people across the country (nearly 2,000) accused of downloading movies over the internet in these type of lawsuits.

We will give you an individualized, no pressure, professional consultation – for free.

Learn about what the notice means.

Ask every question that concerns you.

Learn the facts and decide if you want to settle the lawsuit anonymously, wait to see if nothing happens, or plan to fight back.

File a motion to quash? We’ll help you to decide.

Have us negotiate a settlement for you, including a proper settlement agreement that is in your interest, and a dismissal order entered by the federal court to protect you and which you keep for your records.

Don’t panic. Learn the facts and your legal options by speaking for free to an Antonelli Law attorney confidentially nationwide at 312-201-8310 or use the contact form below.

Bloomberg BNA published this article quoting attorney Jeffrey Antonelli about the large increase in movie download federal copyright lawsuits.

Our clients say Antonelli Law is very good at:

Reducing your anxiety about the problem

Giving clear information to help you decide what to do

Responsive and accessible via phone and email

Tenacious and effective lawyers in lawsuit litigation

We understand the shock you may be feeling from receiving a notice of this action, and have the experience to help you deal with this in the best way possible for you: anonymous settlement, or prepare to fight back.

Attorneys: Don’t risk malpractice in a copyright lawsuit if you don’t do this type of work regularly – the loser pays statutory and attorneys fees. We accept attorney referrals when your local rules allow, and are very experienced in this specialized litigation.

Can I File a Motion to Quash the ISP Subpoena?

Yes, if it is not after the deadline to do so stated in the notice from your internet service provider. If the deadline has not passed, we would need to discuss with you the relative strengths and weaknesses of doing so. See this page from our law firm website on Motions to Quash a Subpoena.

This is What One WWE Studios Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Looks Like

Lawsuits Filed by WWE Studios Finance Corporation

Received a Subpoena from Your Internet Company? The best thing to do is to talk with an experienced lawyer.

Antonelli Law has helped nearly 2,000 clients targeted in internet movie download lawsuits across the country, from Hawaii to New York and many states in between. We can do this because the lawsuits are in federal court, where all filings are done electronically. See our local counsel attorney information below.

Contact us and let our experience help you make the right legal decision for you. Call us nationwide at 312-201-8310 for a free lawyer consultation. We will help you decide what to do about the WWE Studios subpoenas or summons.

We understand the shock you may be feeling from receiving a notice of this action, and have the experience to help you deal with this in the best way possible for you: anonymous settlement, or prepare to fight back.

Attorneys: Don’t risk malpractice in a copyright lawsuit if you don’t do this type of work regularly – the loser pays statutory and attorneys fees. We accept attorney referrals and are very experienced in this specialized litigation.

Don’t Sign a Waiver of Service of Summons Form Before Speaking with an Attorney

As defense attorneys, we are concerned that people who receive a Waiver of Service of Summons form in the mail from the movie company’s lawyer will lead to an unfair default judgment against them. Please speak with an attorney experienced in movie download federal copyright lawsuits before you sign a Waiver of Service of Summons form. For an FAQ on movie download lawsuits click here.

Antonelli Law is the most experienced BT copyright defense firm in the country and represents clients nationwide.

Each lawsuit is filed in federal court and requests permission to find out the real names of internet users associated with IP addresses suspected of being part of the movie downloading. This is done by sending a subpoena to the internet company (ISP). Most people find out they are involved in the lawsuit when they receive a letter from their internet company (ISP) such as Comcast, COX, Comcast, or Verizon informing them of the copyright infringement allegations. A copy of a Subpoena will probably be enclosed.

If you are the account holder for an internet service provider (ISP), your name is linked to an IP address. If you receive an ISP letter or email informing you a subpoena was received to reveal your identity for a copyright infringement lawsuit, call Antonelli Law nationwide about your options including a motion to quash the subpoena at312-201-8310.

Subpoenas and summons can be scary or inconvenient, but we can help you manage the risk and the hassle.

More Information About Antonelli Law’s Nationwide Defense Practice

Antonelli Law defense attorneys and local counsel are admitted to the district courts almost everywhere WWE Studios Finance Corporation lawsuits are filed from coast to coast. We are able to represent you in your federal case without being more expensive or more difficult to hire than hiring a local law firm in part because federal courts require attorneys to file their papers electronically, and often conduct hearings by telephone. This makes frequent trips to the courthouse unnecessary.

We can also defend you and help protect your anonymity in a WWE Studios Finance Corporation lawsuit if circumstances allow.

Final Note: Don’t Sign a Waiver of Service of Summons Form Before Speaking with an Attorney

As defense attorneys, we are concerned that people receiving a Waiver of Service of Summons form in the mail from the movie company’s lawyer will lead to an unfair default judgment against them. Please speak with an attorney experienced in movie download federal copyright lawsuits. For an FAQ on movie download lawsuits click here.

I will say this up front. This article is bound to piss off some attorneys/firms working BitTorrent (BT) Copyright Troll settlements. And I’m NOT talking about the Trolls. Why??? Because it involves money and the fact that some attorney/firms are … Continue reading →

DieTrollDie

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